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Harsha Ram is an Associate Professor in the Department of Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on Russian and European Enlightenment, modernist literature, and the cultural histories of the Caucasus region. He holds dual B.A. Honors degrees in Italian and Russian from the University of Sydney and University of New South Wales, and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Yale University. His work bridges literary theory, post-colonial studies, and geopoetics, with a particular emphasis on Georgia's literary modernism and its intersections with Russian imperial culture. Key themes include spatial theory, peripheral modernisms, and the transnational dimensions of cultural production. Recent work examines the role of ritual feasts in Georgian national identity and the geopoetics of Eurasian avant-garde movements. Ram has published extensively on figures like Velimir Khlebnikov and Boris Pasternak, exploring their engagement with imperial legacies and revolutionary aesthetics. His book The Imperial Sublime: A Russian Poetics of Empire (2003) remains a seminal study of Russian imperial poetics. Current projects include studies on Georgian literary encounters with Russian culture and the symbolic dimensions of Caucasus representations. His scholarship frequently appears in leading journals such as Modernism/Modernity , Slavic Review , and Ab Imperio . He has held visiting positions at institutions globally and actively participates in interdisciplinary dialogues between literary studies, history, and cultural geography.

• Russian and European Enlightenment
• Romanticism and Modernism
• Georgian and Caucasus Literary History
• +8 more

Blair Hoxby is Professor of English at Stanford University's School of Humanities and Sciences, where he has taught since 2007. Previously, he served as Associate Professor of History and Literature at Harvard University (2005-2007) and Associate Professor of English at Yale University (2003-2005), where he began as Assistant Professor in 1998. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. in English from Yale University (1998), an M.Phil. in English Studies from the University of Oxford (1990), and an A.B. in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard University (1988). Hoxby's research focuses on literature and culture from 1500 to 1800, with particular emphasis on tragedy theory, Milton studies, and the intersection of literature and economics. His notable works include What Was Tragedy? Theory and the Early Modern Canon (2015) and Mammon's Music: Literature and Economics in the Age of Milton (2002). He argues that early modern tragedy differed significantly from contemporary understandings of the genre, with passions rather than deeds or character serving as the keys to early modern tragic performance. Hoxby's recent scholarly output reveals a consistent engagement with early modern theatrical practices, particularly tragedy and opera. His work demonstrates sophisticated interdisciplinary approaches, connecting literary analysis with historical context, economic theory, and performance studies. He has made significant contributions to understanding how commercial culture shaped literary production and how theatrical conventions evolved across national boundaries in Europe. Scientific Awards and Honors Internal Fellow, Stanford Humanities Center (2009-2010) Morse Fellowship, Juilliard School (2001-2002) Samuel and Ronnie Heyman Prize, Yale University (2001) John Addison Porter Prize, Yale University (1999) Rhodes Scholarship, University of Oxford (1988-1990) Hoxby has supervised numerous doctoral students and served in various administrative roles at Stanford, including Director of Undergraduate Studies (2011-2014) and Director of Graduate Admissions (2008-2011). His teaching portfolio includes courses on English poetry from the Renaissance to Romanticism, tragedy and tragic theory from Aristotle to the present, theater history, and performance theory. Currently, he teaches courses such as Court Theater from Shakespeare to Mozart and Introduction to English II: From Milton to the Romantics . Hoxby maintains active scholarly engagement through committee memberships, including the Executive Committee of the Milton Society of America (2009-2013) and service as a referee for major academic presses including Oxford University Press and the University of Pennsylvania Press.

• Early Modern Literature
• Tragedy and Tragic Theory
• Milton Studies
• +7 more

Arthur Weststeijn is an Assistant Professor in Political History at Utrecht University, specializing in the history of the Dutch Republic and its colonial empire, the history and contemporary politics of Italy, and the history of Spain and Latin America. He is affiliated with the Department of History and Art History within the Humanities faculty and is part of the Research Institute for History and Art History, focusing on International and Political History. Dr. Weststeijn's educational background includes: PhD in History, European University Institute, Florence (2010) RMA in History, European University Institute, Florence (2006) MA in Philosophy, University of Amsterdam (2005) MA in History, University of Amsterdam (2004) Erasmus Exchange, Universidad de Sevilla (2000-2001) His research focuses on the intellectual history of power, particularly examining ideas that express and contest political authority through two main themes: colonialism (how ideas have shaped European colonialism and resistance against it) and republicanism (how resistance to autocratic rule has given rise to ideas of liberty, citizenship, and democracy). His work spans early-modern Dutch colonialism, anticolonial thought, the history of democracy, and connections between ancient and modern forms of settler colonialism. He has published extensively on early modern republicanism, the political uses of classical heritage, and the making of modern Italy. Weststeijn's scholarly output demonstrates a consistent focus on the intersections between political thought, colonial history, and republican theory. His work often examines how historical ideas continue to shape contemporary political discourse, particularly regarding democracy, citizenship, and colonial legacies. He frequently engages with both European and transatlantic intellectual traditions, showing particular expertise in Dutch and Italian political thought. His notable awards and fellowships include: Fellow, Huntington Library, San Marino, California (Summer 2022) Fellow, John Carter Brown Library, Providence, Rhode Island (Spring 2019) Director of Historical Studies, Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome (2011-2017) Dr. Weststeijn has served as a visiting researcher at prestigious institutions including the Cambridge Centre for Political Thought, University of Southern California, University of Wisconsin at Madison, and University of Padua. He frequently appears as an expert commentator on Italian culture and politics in Dutch media and maintains an active public intellectual presence. He is involved in multiple research initiatives including the IOS research themes on Contesting Governance, Futures of Democracy, and Longtermism and Institutional Change. His work often involves interdisciplinary collaboration with archaeologists, classicists, and scholars from various humanities disciplines.

• Intellectual History
• History of Political Thought
• Colonial History
• +7 more

Professor Helena Sanson is a Full Professor of Italian, History of Linguistics, and Women's Studies at the University of Cambridge , where she is also a Fellow of Clare College and serves as Postgraduate Teaching and Examining Officer for the Italian Section. She joined Cambridge in 2005 after teaching at University College London (1998-2003) following her British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship. PhD from University of Reading (2002) Her interdisciplinary research focuses on the intersection of Italian linguistic history , literary culture , and gender studies from the Renaissance to post-Unification period. Particular emphasis includes women's contributions to linguistic thought , conduct literature analysis , and female roles in translation networks . Her work examines how women navigated language standardization, educational access, and literary production across social strata. Recent projects include Leverhulme-funded research on women's linguistic experiences in 18th-19th century Italy and co-edited volumes on transnational travelers' accounts and early modern female education . She founded the Women and Gender in Italy (1500-1900) book series and the journal Women Language Literature in Italy . Scientific awards include: British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship Leverhulme Research Fellowship Philip Leverhulme Prize CRASSH Early Career Fellowship Isaac Newton Trust grant Senior Visiting Fellowship at University of Bologna She supervises graduate research in topics spanning women's writing , linguistic thought , translation history , and cultural marginalization in 16th-20th century Italy. Her work bridges philology, literary criticism, and social history through rigorous textual analysis.

• History of Linguistics
• Italian Language and Literature
• Gender Studies
• +6 more

James Grantham Turner is the James D. Hart Chair and Distinguished Professor of English at the University of California, Berkeley. He specializes in 18th-century British literature, gender and sexuality studies, Renaissance and Early Modern studies, narrative and the novel, poetry, and drama. His research bridges literature and art history, focusing on sexuality, gender, ecology, and classical antiquity. He holds degrees from Oxford University (B.A., 1968; M.A., Cert.Ed.; D.Phil., 1977) and has taught at institutions including Oxford, Sussex, Northwestern, and Michigan before joining Berkeley in 1990. Turner’s recent work includes The Villa Farnesina: Palace of Venus in Renaissance Rome (2022), winner of the PROSE Award in Art History, and Eros Visible: Art, Sexuality and Antiquity in Renaissance Italy (2017). His research explores interdisciplinary histories of sexuality, combining European literature, social history, and art. He has contributed to major exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Gallery of Victoria, and the Getty Museum. Awarded fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, NEH, and ACLS, Turner’s scholarship spans over 100 articles and books. He has served on editorial boards for PMLA , Eighteenth-Century Studies , and others. His recent conference papers include discussions on Milton’s cosmology and Renaissance erotic art. He currently teaches at Berkeley and maintains office hours in Wheeler Hall. Turner’s research also intersects with global sexualities, food studies, and classical mythology. His work emphasizes cross-cultural analysis, from Italian Renaissance palaces to Enlightenment-era libertinism. He continues to explore intersections of art, literature, and sexuality across pre-modern Europe.

• Gender & Sexuality Studies
• 18th-Century British Literature
• Renaissance and Early Modern Studies
• +7 more

Vicente Cervera Salinas is a Professor of Spanish Literature at the University of Murcia, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the Department of Spanish Literature, Literary Theory and Comparative Literature. He has been a full professor since 2004 and specializes in Latin American literature, intertextuality, and literary theory. His research interests include: Spanish and Latin American Literature Comparative Literature and Intertextuality Poetry and the Essay as Literary Genres Classical Mythology and its Modern Reinterpretations Aesthetic Criticism and Cultural Memory Philosophical Dimensions in Literature His scholarly and creative work reflects deep engagement with figures like Jorge Luis Borges, Dante Alighieri, and George Santayana. His publications span poetry, critical essays, and editorial projects, often exploring the intersections between literature, philosophy, and cultural identity. The themes across his recent articles reveal a consistent focus on myth, authorship, and transatlantic literary traditions, particularly in Hispanic contexts. He has received recognition including the Second Prize in the America Poetry Prize (1993). He co-directs the journal Cartaphilus: Revista de investigación y crítica estética and has directed the Humanities Classroom at the University of Murcia. He served as president of the Association of Hispanic American Literary Studies (2014–2018). He has supervised at least one doctoral thesis and has been a visiting professor at institutions in Havana, San José (Costa Rica), Buenos Aires, and Vienna. His academic leadership includes editing multi-volume works on literary figures and movements, contributing significantly to the study of Hispanic intellectual and aesthetic traditions. He leads the research group Plural Scriptures: Intertextuality and Interdisciplinarity , continuing to influence both literary scholarship and creative writing in Spain and Latin America.

• Spanish Literature
• Latin American Literature
• Comparative Literature
• +7 more

Barbara Fuchs is a Professor in the Department of English at the University of California, Los Angeles, specializing in early modern European literature across Spanish, English, French, and Italian traditions from the 15th to 17th centuries. Her work emphasizes transnational contexts, theater and performance studies, and cultural production within imperial frameworks, with significant contributions to Mediterranean and transatlantic studies. Education Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, Stanford University (1997) B.A./M.A. in Comparative Literature (English, French, Spanish), summa cum laude, Yale University (1992) Research Interests Professor Fuchs' scholarship centers on transnationalism in early modern literature, examining how theater and performance negotiated imperial identities across Mediterranean and transatlantic contexts. Her work critically engages with race and religion in the early modern world, picaresque traditions, and Cervantes studies, revealing how cultural encounters shaped literary production. She bridges historical analysis with contemporary relevance through public humanities initiatives focused on classical Hispanic theater. Publication Trends Her recent publications demonstrate interdisciplinary innovation, merging literary analysis with performance studies and material culture. Recurring themes include transnational exchange mechanisms, racial formation processes, and textual materiality, while recent work addresses pandemic-era digital performance and modern adaptations of classical works. This trajectory highlights her commitment to connecting historical scholarship with current social and artistic practices. Scientific Awards Premio Ñ from the Instituto Cervantes (inaugural award) for promotion of Spanish language and culture Advising and Leadership Professor Fuchs mentors undergraduate and graduate students in early modern studies, translation, and performance. She leads the UCLA "Diversifying the Classics" initiative and LA Escena festival, securing institutional support for these collaborative projects. Her editorial leadership includes serving as articles editor for Renaissance Quarterly and co-editing the Norton Anthology of World Literature , demonstrating field-wide influence. Projects and Teams She directs the "Diversifying the Classics" initiative, which collaborates with theater professionals to adapt Hispanic classical works for contemporary Los Angeles audiences, and founded LA Escena—the biennial festival of Hispanic classical theater. These projects unite scholars, artists, and communities to explore historical texts through modern performance lenses, emphasizing accessibility and cultural relevance.

• Early Modern Literature
• Transnationalism
• Theater and Performance
• +7 more

Steven G. Kellman is a Professor of English at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), where he has taught since 1976. A leading scholar in comparative literature and literary translingualism, he was UTSA's first Ashbel Smith Professor (1995-2000) and has received numerous accolades including the National Book Critics Circle Balakian Citation and the New York Society Library Award for Biography. His academic foundation includes: Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, University of California at Berkeley (1972) M.A. in Comparative Literature, University of California at Berkeley (1969) B.A. in English & General Literature, State University of New York at Binghamton (1967) Kellman's research focuses on comparative literature, modern and contemporary literature, prose fiction, literary translingualism, film, and biography. He pioneered the study of writers who create in non-native languages, examining how linguistic displacement fuels creativity and shapes identity across cultural boundaries. His work bridges literary analysis with cultural history, particularly in American literature and biography. His recent publications demonstrate sustained engagement with translingualism, pandemic-era literary interpretation, and biographical recovery of marginalized voices. Articles from 2022-2025 reveal consistent thematic threads: re-examining classic texts like Camus' The Plague through contemporary crises, analyzing translingual writing as spiritual practice, and recovering erased narratives in literary partnerships. Honors include the National Book Critics Circle Nona Balakian Citation (2006), New York Society Library Award for Biography (2006), and Gemini Ink Literary Excellence Award (2008). Additional distinctions: UTSA COLFA Researcher of the Year Award (2019-2020) McGinnis-Ritchie Award for Nonfiction (2008) San Antonio Public Library Foundation Arts and Letters Award (2005) Two UTSA President's Distinguished Achievement Awards in Research Excellence (1990-91, 2005-2006) Kellman has secured prestigious fellowships including the Fulbright Distinguished Chair at Sofia University and Harvard's John E. Sawyer Fellowship. He served four terms on the National Book Critics Circle board and edits Brill's Literary Multilingualism series, demonstrating sustained commitment to advancing literary scholarship through editorial leadership and institutional service.

• Comparative literature
• Modern and contemporary literature
• Prose fiction
• +3 more

Dan Edelstein is the William H. Bonsall Professor of French at Stanford University, with courtesy appointments in History and Political Science. He serves as Faculty Director of Stanford Introductory Studies and as a University Fellow in Undergraduate Education. Department of French and Italian Stanford Introductory Studies Humanities + Design Research Lab Center for Spatial and Textual Analysis (CESTA) His research spans eighteenth-century French literature, political thought, and digital humanities, focusing on natural rights, revolutions, and Enlightenment ideologies. He has led groundbreaking projects like Mapping the Republic of Letters and Writing Rights , leveraging tools like Palladio and Data Pen for network analysis. Scientific awards include the 2009 Oscar Kenshur Book Prize, the Walter J. Gores Award (2006), and the Dean's Distinguished Teaching Award (2011). He has directed the Stanford Summer Humanities Institute and co-directs the Humanities Core program.

• Digital Humanities
• French Revolution
• Enlightenment
• +6 more

Angelos Mouzakitis serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Crete's School of Social Sciences. His academic career spans multiple Greek institutions including the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki and the University of Patras, alongside international appointments at the Alpen-Adria Universität Klagenfurt in Austria and fellowships at the European University Institute in Florence. His educational background includes: PhD in Sociology from the University of Warwick (2002) MA in Philosophy and Social Theory (with Distinction) from the University of Warwick (1997) Degree in Sociology from Panteion University, Athens, Greece (1996) Mouzakitis specializes in social theory with particular emphasis on social ontology, social change, and the constitution of the 'subject.' His research deeply engages with phenomenology and hermeneutics as approaches to understanding social sciences epistemology, with significant contributions to Castoriadis scholarship. His work explores how historical consciousness shapes social institutions and examines the philosophical foundations of social autonomy. He has developed particular expertise in the works of Heidegger, Gadamer, and Ricoeur, analyzing their relevance for contemporary social theory. His recent publications reveal a sustained engagement with political imaginaries, the concept of progress in modernity, and the philosophical underpinnings of social autonomy. Working across multiple languages (Greek, English, French, German, and Italian), his scholarship bridges continental philosophy with sociological theory, particularly examining how historical consciousness shapes social institutions. His work consistently explores the tension between tradition and innovation in social thought, with special attention to how philosophical concepts illuminate contemporary social challenges. Associate Editor, Frontiers in Sociology, Section Sociological Theory Member of the Editorial Review Board of the "Social Imaginaries" series by Rowman & Littlefield Member of the Hellenic Sociological Association Member of the European Sociological Association Member of the Scientific Committee of CERAP (Centre d'étude et de recherche appliqué en Psychopédagogie perceptive) As an educator, Mouzakitis has supervised numerous graduate students and contributed to sociological theory curricula across multiple institutions. His international academic experience, including his prestigious Jean Monnet Fellowship, has informed his comparative approach to sociological inquiry. His teaching spans undergraduate and graduate levels, with courses on social theory, philosophy of social sciences, and specialized topics related to his research interests in phenomenology and hermeneutics.

• Social Theory
• Social Ontology
• Social Change
• +7 more

Matthew Stanard is Professor of History at Berry College and President of the French Colonial Historical Society. His research centers on modern European history, particularly European imperialism, colonialism, decolonization, and their cultural legacies. He has authored and edited numerous influential books that explore colonial propaganda, comparative empires, and the enduring impacts of empire in Europe. B.A., Wake Forest University M.A. and Ph.D., Indiana University-Bloomington Dr. Stanard's teaching interests include Modern European History, Africa since 1800, World History, and the interconnected themes of Imperialism, Colonialism, and Nationalism. His research examines European overseas imperialism, Belgian colonialism in the Congo, colonial culture in Europe, and comparative imperial dynamics. His work has been translated into French, English, Italian, and Dutch, reflecting its international reach. His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on the cultural dimensions of empire and decolonization, particularly how societies remember, represent, and reckon with imperial pasts. Themes such as public memory, monuments, media, and education recur across his scholarship, indicating a deep engagement with postcolonial memory and identity in Europe. Wolfsonian Fellow, Wolfsonian-FIUM Belgian American Educational Foundation Fellow Chancellor's Fellow, Indiana University Participant, National History Center's Decolonization Seminar Dr. Stanard is actively engaged in academic mentorship and public scholarship. He has advised graduate students and contributed to public discourse through interviews with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Nightlife and the 'Then Again' podcast. He is currently working on two major book projects: a comprehensive history of Belgian colonialism and a global history of the island of Majorca. His research is supported by ongoing affiliations with international academic networks and collaborative projects.

• Modern European History
• Imperialism
• Colonialism
• +7 more

Nathaniel Gilmore is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Government at the University of Texas at Austin, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. His research focuses on Early-modern political and legal thought Roman influence in political philosophy Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu and Rousseau Classical reception in modern political theory Recent publications explore intersections between Aristotelian economics , Rousseau's philosophy , and Machiavellian analyses of republicanism . His work often examines how classical antiquity informs Enlightenment political reasoning. Professor Gilmore teaches courses spanning Capitalism and political psychology Tyranny and modern liberalism Classical political thought (Augustine, Hobbes, Montesquieu, Rousseau) Specialized seminars on Roman historians and Enlightenment figures

• Early-modern political thought
• Jurisprudence
• Historical political thought
• +3 more

Julia Gelshorn is a full professor of modern and contemporary art history at the University of Fribourg , Switzerland, since 2013. She specializes in strategies of appropriation, repetition, and translation in art, with a focus on 21st-century practices and 18th-century French art theory. Her research explores artistic subjectivity, realism, and the intersection of art, politics, and economy. Education: Art History, Theater Science, and Italian Literature at the Universities of Cologne and Bern. Key Roles: Post-doctoral fellow at the German Center for Art History (2006-2008); visiting professor at HfG Karlsruhe (2008-2010); professor at Universities of Vienna (2010-2011) and Hamburg (2011-2013). Research Interests center on: (1) artistic appropriation as a critical and affective tool; (2) realisms across historical contexts; (3) artist interviews as legible texts; (4) art’s engagement with political and economic systems; (5) theoretical frameworks for visual culture. Her current Real Abstractions project (2023-2027) rethinks realism through social abstractions like financialization and digital networks. Scientific Contributions include the Lazarus Prize from the University of Bern’s Faculty of Humanities (2003) for her dissertation on Richter and Polke. Her publications span books like Aneignung und Wiederholung (2012) and edited volumes on artists such as Jean Tinguely (2016), while her recent articles address Martin Kippenberger, Rosemarie Trockel, and Benjamin Buchloh’s historiography. Notable Projects include the completed SNSF-funded Cinema in Art and Literature (2016) and the ongoing Real Abstractions initiative, which also involves a traveling exhibition and interdisciplinary workshops.

• Contemporary Art (19th-21st centuries)
• French 18th-century Art and Theory
• Artistic Appropriation
• +5 more

Daniel L. Schlafly is a Professor in the Department of History at Saint Louis University 's College of Arts and Sciences . His career spans decades of research in Russian and East European history, with a focus on cross-cultural exchanges between Russia and Western Europe. Education : Ph.D. (Columbia University, 1972), M.A. in Russian Studies (Columbia, 1965), Certificate from the Russian Institute (Columbia, 1965), A.B. (Georgetown University, 1961), and M.B.A. (Saint Louis University, 1998). Research interests include cross-cultural history, Jesuit educational institutions in Russia and America, religious minorities in post-Soviet Russia, and East-West encounters during the Enlightenment. His work emphasizes primary source analysis in original languages like Russian, French, and Italian. Publication trends highlight comparative studies of Jesuit schools, diplomatic records, and religious identity formation. His articles span 1970-2008 , with a focus on Russia's engagement with Catholicism and Western institutions. Scientific awards and grants include: Mellon grants for international research (1991-1996) Adenauer Scholarship for German studies (1961-62) Conference funding from 2002-2014 Grants for translating Marek Inglot's Jesuit history (2008-2013) He has taught courses on the origins of the modern world , history of Eastern Europe , Russian history , and nationalism studies .

• Russian History
• East European History
• Cross-Cultural History
• +4 more

M. Şükrü Hanioğlu is a Professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University and Chair of the Near Eastern Studies Department. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Istanbul University and has taught courses on late Ottoman political and diplomatic history at institutions including Istanbul University, Bosphorus University, the Turkish Naval Academy, Columbia University, and Princeton. Focuses on Ottoman intellectual history, nationalist movements, and diplomatic history Supervised multiple Ph.D. dissertations at Istanbul University and Princeton on topics related to Ottoman-Turkish history Publishes extensively on the Committee of Union and Progress and late Ottoman political life Selected Publications: His works include A Brief History of the Late Ottoman Empire (2008) and Young Turks in Opposition (1995), with archival research spanning Turkish, German, Austrian, French, Swiss, Italian, Greek, and British collections.

• Late Ottoman History
• Modern Turkish History
• Nationalist Movements in the Near East
• +3 more